Clip



Aug' 4, 1931- B. F. HoRsTlNG ET AL 1,817,149

CLIP

Filed July 31, 1929 Jif @yf El lv" v- Illllllltl! ,1 Humm.

Patented Aug. 4, 1931 UNETEB STATES PATENT OFFEE BERNARD F. IE'RTING ANB GEORGE C. LEPPLA. GF CliI'CllG-G, LLINS CLIP Application filed July 31,

This invention relates to clips or toggles especially designed for securing leather, hides, pelts, and other sheet like materials to stretching trames.

( In our cil-pending application Serial No. 246,492 We show a clipor toggle for this purpose. ln such clip the movable jaw is moved into release position by a thumb piece -ivhich is located in the space between the upper ends of the side brackets to which the movable jaw is ulcrumed. This space is no wider than the ufidth of the clip or toggle itself, and as the latter is relatively narrow, it follows that the thumb piece is sometimes didcult to operate, especially by a Workman having` an unusually Wide thumb which will not enter the space to reach the releasing' member. This in and ci itself Vis not a vvserious objection to the clip, but

it does make the clip inconvenient of operation by some Workman. Having the thumb piece so arranged it is necessary to provide an opening; therefor in the top Wall of the .body member of the clip. This of course iveakens the body member and in addition makes the clip more costly because of the punching` operation required to make the opening. i

The object of our invention is to improve 301m the clip of the application and We do so by having the releasing` member enganjeable from the rear end ot the clip, thereby allowing free and unobstructed access to be -had to said member at all times and avoidmg' the objection referred to in connection with the other clip.

Ano'lher object of our invention is to have the body of the clip extend through an opening in the releasing member and thus avoid 4C' punching` an opening` in the body of the clip to vveaken it as heretofore.

A further object of our invention is to provide a spring action for the movable iaw and so construct and arrange the action that it passes a dead center to hold the aw either open or closed as desired.

The .invention consists further in the matters hereinafter described and claimed..

. In the `accompanying` drawine's: Fig. lis a side elevational View of a clip 1929. Serial No. 382,531.

constructed in acizordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through the clip on line 2 2 ot Fig. l, the movable jaw of the clip being shown in open position;

Fig. 3 is a similar vertical sectional View showing the movable jaw in closed position and engaging a sheet of material to be stretched g F d is a horizontal sectional View taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an end View of the clip; and

Fie. (3 is a top plan view of the forward part ot the upper jaiv to show tl e recesses at the sides there for the brackets to be prercntly described. A

The clip oi our invention comprises a onepiece metal body member 1, substantially elongated U-shaped in 'term and having; up- 7 nardly extending side flancos 2, 2 int gral 'j i n AA@ with the side marginal edges ol" the dat low- 'lhe flanges 2 have uper arm 3 of the U. per reduced portions a, a which form brackets and extend above 1he upper arm 5 el' the U on the opposite sides thereof, as .sh-mvo in Figs. l to The brackets Where hey cross the arm 5, have openings or apertures G, G' into which extend tongues 7, 7 at the sides orn the arm and made integral therewith. rl`he openings 6 extend above the tongues 7 and are made large enough to re` ceive the ends ol a rod 8V which extemls across the upper side of the arm 5 between the brackets to connect them together and n keep the brackets from spreading away from the arm. rl`he opposite enos of the rod are riveted against the outer sides ot the brackets for this purpose.

The brackets have i'ior- Wardly projecting` portions 9. 9 at their upper ends, Wl' '.ch portions bear edgewise against the upper surface of the arm 5 alone; its side edges beyond the tongues 7 to colinect the arms 3 and 5 together at the front end of the clip and to keep said arms 'from spreadingapart under the spring,` action provided by the loop l0 in tl e U at the rear end of the clip.

The arm 5 at the brackets 4 is substantially as wide as the space between the brackets .the bottom thereof soV that the trunnions 13 so that the latter may beibrought against the side edges of the arm. Beyond the brackets the arm 5 is a triie wider so that the projections 9 may overlap the arm. Rezesses 11, 11 are provided in the side edges of the arm 5 between the tongues 7 and the widened front portion of the arm to receive the portions of the brac'irets at the tongues. The forward portion of the arm 5 under the projections 9 constitutes the upper or staf, tionary jaws of the clip and this is directly surface transversely serrated so as to prevent slippage of the material v15 engaged between the jaws. The movable jaw is in the shape of an inverted U and being fulcrumed at its lower end, said jaw will be drawn toward the stationary jaw on the outward pull of the material thereon, and thus clamp the material tighterbetween the jaws.

The movable jaw v12 is of a width substantially equal to1 the distance between the side flanges 2 and has its inner end between the brackets 4 and directed downward toward the lower arm 3 of'the'clip, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8. The'side flanges 2 in their portions at the rear of the openings 14, are

pressed outward to provide vertical channels 15, 15', one onthe inside'of each flange. These channels overlap the rear portions of the openings 14 and extend to may be engaged in theopenings in assembling the clip. Y

To move the jaw 12 away from the lined v.jaw 5 so as torelease the material 15, or open the clip to receive the material, we provide an operating member 16 which is located to the rear of the brackets 4. The member 16 is fulcrumed between the flanges 2 to the rear of the brackets by trunnions 17, 17 which are at the lower end of the member and engage in openings 18, 18 in thelianges 2. The member 16 above the flanges 2 is widened out and provided with a rectangular opening 19 through which the upper arm 5 of the .clip extends, as shown in Fig. 5. The opening 19 is made wide enough to permit of free movement of the member 16 as it is swung baclr and forth in opening 'and closing the movable jaw 12, and also to allow for'maximum movement of the jaw to ac? commodate any kthickness of material to be engaged thereby. The member 16 at its lower end just below the trunnions 17 is provided with aA foii'v-.iardly extending `linger 2 0 which reaches to the inner or free end of the jaw 12 andY extends into a slot or opening 21 therein.

Arranged about the linger 2O is a coiled spring 22, which is of the expansion type and bears at its ends against the inner or free end of the jaw 12 and the lower end of the member 16. The fulcrum 17 for the member 16 is above the fulcrum 13 for the jaw 12, the line a between the centers of the fulcrums indicating the deadv center `for the spring action. l/Vhen the jaw 12 is in clamping position, as shown in F ig. 3, the finger 20 and the spring 22 thereon extend above the dead center line a. The upwardl force of the spring 22 holds the jawy 12 raised and presses it against the stationary jaw 5 or against the material l5 therebetween. The spring also holds the member 1G close to or against the upper surface of the loop 10 and from being accidentally moved upward.

On raising the member 16 to open the jaw 12 to release the material 15 or open the clip to receive the material, the finger 2O is swung downward against the lower edge of the slot 21 and swings the jaw 12 in the same direction. This movement continues until the linger 2O passes below the dead center line a and the spring 22 in expanding holds the jaw 12 open and the member 16 raised, as shown in F ig. 2. rlhis prevents the jaw 12 closing on releasing the lifting force on the member 16, and the clip'will remain open until it is desired to close it. This enables the clips around the edge of the material being' stretched to be opened quickly by merely raising the members 16 and all of the clips will remain open to permit the material to be easily withdrawn therefrom.

vThe flanges 2 at the forward edges of the openings 18 for the trunnions 17 are pressed Voutward to provide vertical channels 23 which permit the trunnions to be engaged in the openings 18 on assembling the clip.

A hook-shaped barb or prong 24 extends downward from the lower arm or base 3 of the clip adjacent its rear end, that is, where the loop 1() joins the base 3. The prong 24 may be formed by stamping it out from the metal of the base 3, in that case, a slot being formed where the metal is displaced to provide the prong, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The prong 24 is provided to engage in any one of a number of holes or apertures 25, 25 in the plate 26of the supporting or stretcher frame as employed in leather stretching devices. A portion of the metal of the base 3 to the rear ofthe prong 24 is pressed downward lto provide a lug or boss 27 in line with l the prong and of a length, together with the prong to lit in any of the openings 25. This will give added support to the prong and transfer the stretching strain on the clip to the body thereof.

In practice the clips of our invention are engaged with the marginal edge of the hide or other sheet material to be stretched about the outer marginal edge thereof and the prongs 2li of the clips with their bosses 27 ire engaged in the ao ro )riate a iertures or n a l The member 16 extends to the rear of the loop 10` and thus free access may be had thereto at all times. There are no parts of the clip structure in the way to interere with reaching the member to operate it, as heretofore. The loop l0 also provides an opening to receive the finger of the hand operating the clip and thus enables the clip to be readily and easily held while the humb is used to raise the member 16. The ioop where it joins the base 8 is offset above the base to provide a rest or shoulder 28 for the finger of the hand when opening the clip and applying it to the edge of the material 'Lo be stretched. AThe clip is made of relatively heavy gauge metal and is rigid, strong and efficient. It is easily made and may be produced at small expense.

The details of structure and arrangement f parts shown and described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

Ve claim as our invention:

l. A clip of the character described, comprising a substantially elongated U-shaped body portion open at one end, means connecting the arms of the U together at the open end, a movable jaw carried by one arm .ind movable toward and `from the other arm to close and open the clip, and means for moving said jaw, said means having an operable member which is engageable at the loop end of the clip, said member having an 'pening through which the body portion of the clip extends.

2. A clip of the character described, comprising a substantially elongated U-shaped body portion at one end, means connecting he arms of the U together at its open end, a movable jaw carried by one arm and movable toward and from the other arm to close and open the clip, and means for moving said jaw, said means including spring means 'Loting to hold the aw open or closed as it is moved into either of said positions.

3. A clip of the character described, comprising a substantially elongated U-shaped body portion open at one end, means connecting the arms of the U together at its open end, a movable jaw and an operating member therefor, both fulcrumed between said arms with the fulcrum of the member above that of the jaw, a finger carried by said member and engageabie with the jaw for moving the same in the swinging of said member, said finger passing the line of dead center be tween said fulcrums in the opening and closing of the aw, and spring means acting to hold the jaw open or closed as the jaw is moved into either of said positions.

4. A clip of the character described, comprising a substantially elongated U-shaped body portion open at one end, means connecting the arms of the U together at its open end, a movable jaw and an operating member therefor, both fulcrumed between said arms with the fulcrum of the member above that of the jaw, a finger carried by said member and engageable with the jaw for moving the same in the swinging of said member, said finger being inclined to the line of dead center passing through said fulcrums and passing said line in the opening and closing of the jaw, and a coiled spring about said finger and acting to hold the jaw open or closed as the jaw is moved into either of said positions.

5. A clip of the character described, comprising an elongated substantially U-shape body portion open at one end with the arms of the U arranged one above the other and extending to and terminating at the open end of the clip, flanges carried by one arm and engaged with the other arm to rigidly connect the arms together, so that one arm may serve as the fixed jaw for the clip, a a movable jaw fulcrumed between said fianges adjacent the other arm, and movable toward and from the fixed jaw in the closing and opening of the clip, and means for moving the movable jaw, said means having an operable member which when the jaw is closed extends rearward beyond the loop of the U at the rear end of the clip.

G. A clip of the character described, comprising an elongated substantially U-shaped body portion open at one end, flanges carried by one arm of the U and engaged with the other arm to connect the arms together, a movable jaw fulcrumed between said flanges adjacent the one arm and movable toward and from the other arm, an operable member for said jaw, said member being fulerumed between said fianges to the rear of the jaw and on a level different than that of the fulcrum of the jaw, said member having a finger engageable with said jaw for moving the same and passing the dead center line between the fulerums in the opening and closing of the jaw, and spring means acting on the aw to hold it open or closed as the aw is moved in either of said positions.

7. A clip of the character described, comprising `an elongated substantially U-shaped body portion open at one end, side iianges vlia-nges and engageable with said jaw for moving the same, and a coiled spring about said linger and pressing against said mem- Ler and jaw, respectively.

8. A clip of thecharacter described, comprising an elongated substantially U-sliaped body portion open at one end, side flanges carried by the lower arm of the U and having reduced portions forming brackets ex'- tending across the upper arm of the U at its side edges, a rod extending between and engaged with said brackets above said .upperarm for connecting the arms together, a movable jaw and an operable member therefor fulcrumed between said' flanges on oposite sides oi said brackets, a linger carried by said member between said flanges and engageable with said jaw for moving the same, a coiled spring about said linger and pressingl against the member and jaw, respectively, and a prong carried by the lower arm and extending'below the same. l

9. A clip of the character described, comprising an elongated substantially itl-shaped body portion open at oneend, means including flanges at the sides of one', oi the arms OIp the U for connecting the arms together at the open end or" the li, a movable jaw member andan operable member therefor be-k tween said flanges and each having trun i Vnions engageable in openings in said iianges, said flanges having channels at the openings so that the trunnions may be engaged there- Y with when assembling the clip, andA spring means acting on said members to holdthe jaw member either open or closed.

l0. Aclip of the character described, comprising an elongated substantially U-shaped U together at the open .end of the clip, a movable jaw member and an operable member therefor tulcrumed between said arms with the jaw member movable toward and 'A from the upper arm in the closing and opening oie the clip,.. and a prong and a boss pressed out of the lower arm and extending below the same, said boss being to the rear of the prong to provide an additional support therefor. r Y

l2. A clip of the character described, comprising an elongated substantially U-shaped body portion open at one end, side flanges on the lower arm of the U and having brackets extending across the upper arm, means connecting the brackets together at said upper arm, tongues on the upper arm atsaid brackets and extending into apertures therein, said brackets having Yprojections engaging over the forward portion of the upper arm, and clamp rmeans*including a movable jaw fulcrumed between said flanges and movable towardand from said upper arm.

13. A clip of the character described.l comprising upper' and lower arms, al loop connecting the arns together at one end, means connecting arms together atthe other ond, a movable jaw fulcrumed between said arms and movable toward and from the upper arm in closing'aadV opening the clip, and means for moving said jaw including an operable member fulcrumed between said arms, said member extending toward the' loop to be engaged fromthe rear thereof, said loop where it oins the lower arm being Voiilset upward to provide a rest or Vshoulder Jlor the finger of thehand when holding the clip. i

In testimony whereof we afix our signatures. Y Y

B'ERNARE F. HORSTING. GEORGE C. LEPPLA.

body portion lopen at one end, means con'- nocting the upper and Vlower arms of the U together at'the open end of the clip, a

Y movable jaw member and operable member therefor ulcrumed between said arms with the jaw member movable towardV and from thenpper ari-"nainy the closing and opening of the clip, a prong carried by the lower arm prong to ythelower arm when the clip is in use.- y Y Y Y ll. 'A clip of the character described, com-r prising an elongated substantially Ushaped body portion open at one end, meansconnecting the .upper and lower varms of the and extending below the same, rand a boss v1 on the long arm tojtransfer the strain o n ther 

